A New Forest town has been ranked as the best dog-friendly holiday hotspot in the UK, according to new research.

Lymington was named as the best place for a 'dogcation' on a list from the pet insurance company Petsure.

Discussing the creation of the list they wrote: "With summer approaching, we’ve put together a handy guide to help you plan your “dogcation”.

"40 popular UK holiday destinations have been carefully reviewed and ranked based on the percentage of dog-friendly hotels, cottages, restaurants, pubs spas, and hikes.

"We’ve also looked at the number of vets within a 20-mile radius of each location so you could get your dog medical help if needed."

The full list can be found on the Petsure website here.

Why is Lymington the best dog-friendly holiday spot in the UK?

The top 10 dog-friendly holiday hotspots according to Petsure were:

  1. Lymington
  2. Bournemouth
  3. Tynemouth
  4. Dartmouth
  5. Bamburgh
  6. Wells-next-the-Sea
  7. Brighton
  8. Southwold
  9. Whitby
  10. Whitstable

Lymington's ranking as number one on the list was based on a decent percentage of dog-friendly hotels, pubs, restaurants, hikes, spas and cottages.

Petsure explained: "Taking the crown for top dogcation is Lymington, a coastal town in the New Forest, Hampshire. Lymington stands out for having the most dog-friendly hikes of all locations in the study. There are 169 trails for you and your dog to explore, including nature reserves and scenic coastal routes.

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"If you’re both hungry after your hike, head to one of the 19 dog-friendly restaurants in town. Fancy a post-dinner drink? You’ve got a choice of 57 pubs that will happily welcome you and your pup.

"To give you peace of mind during your holiday, Lymington has 35 vet practices available within 20 miles or less. Remember to double-check the opening times of any clinic you may have to visit."

Meanwhile, nearby Bournemouth came in second place while Tynemouth in the North of England was in third spot.